Welcome to Cambodia Microfinance Association

Today, the Cambodian Microfinance Association is honored to present a unique and unique correspondence link between providing financial literacy to the public on responsible use of microfinance services. Listen more, increase your knowledge.

A loan is not a gift, so use it for the right purpose - especially to generate more income!

Phnom Penh, 22 February 2018 – Today, Cambodia Microfinance Association (CMA) organized its 12th Annual General Assembly (AGA) which was attended by 84 representatives of its members to review the achievements of the previous year, approve CMA strategic plan 2018-2022, and discuss work plan for 2018. The AGA discussed and approved amendment to the CMA Statute. The change increases number of CMA Board of Directors’ composition from 11 to 13 members, 11 representatives of microfinance institution members, 1 representative of financial leasing institutions and 1 representative of rural credit institutions

This report presents the findings of the Voice of the Client (VoC) project, a pilot developed for financial service providers (FSPs) to leverage mobile technologies as a means to analyze the level of satisfaction of their clients with the suite of products and services offered. Between April and June 2017, data related to client protection principles (CPPs) were collected from 1,698 clients of across four FSPs in Cambodia – AMK, IPR, MAXIMA, and PRASAC. The analysis draws from the survey responses of these 1,698 clients, as well as a subset of the 1,357 clients that we were able to match with client profile data extracted from the FSPs’ databases. The data were collected using a mobile technology called interactive voice response (IVR), which allows a computer to interact with respondents through the use of their telephone’s touchscreen or keypad.

CMA have entered into an agreement with Soh Sei Corporation Limited to market and brand member companies business at Phnom Penh’s best international schools and universities and at the Aeon Mall.

Soh Sei Corporation is a Digital Media Advertising Company that has exclusive digital advertising rights in all public areas in Aeon Mall and at some of the best International Schools and Universities in Phnom Penh.

Currently, Soh Sei displays advertisements at the following locations:

Every student needs laptops, cell phone, motorbikes etc. during their study years at high school & university. When the MFI advertisement is displayed and seen by the students and visitors, they will discuss this with their parents/family, who will then contact the MFI for financing.

Over 15 million visitors of all ages visit the Aeon Mall per year. Soh Sei can customize the advertisement displays to meet the individual MFI’s marketing plan and budget.

PRESS RELEASE

AMRET the Microfinance Institution in Cambodia Certified for Commitment to Client Protection

17th June 2016, AMRET has been 100% officially recognized as “Client Protection Certified” by the Smart Campaign for meeting strong standards of client care. AMRET is financial institution in Cambodia to be awarded this prestigious certification out of the 10 MFIs pursuing such recognition funded by French Development Agency (AFD) under the “Client Protection Initiative” project implemented by Cambodia Microfinance Association (CMA) thank to M-CRIL as the rating agency. For more information about M-CRIL, visit: www.m-cril.com

Client Protection initiative is aiming to contribute to the stability and promotion of responsible finance with a view to ensuring a sustainable growth for the microfinance sector in Cambodia. Among several actions aimed at fighting against the risk of clients’ over-indebtedness, CMA is disseminating and ensuring the implementation of the Client Protection Principles (CPPs) in which CMA has been supporting top 10 MFIs in Cambodia to achieve Client Protection Certification through Smart Campaign.

The Smart Campaign is a global initiative which exists to ensure strong client-protection practices in the microfinance industry. The Smart Campaign’s Client Protection Certification program publicly recognizes institutions providing financial services to low-income households, whose standards of care uphold the Smart Campaign’s seven Client Protection Principles covering important areas such as pricing, transparency, fair and respectful treatment and prevention of over-indebtedness. The certification program contains a rigorous set of standards against which institutions are evaluated by independent, third-party raters that are licensed by the Smart Campaign. More information about Smart Campaign, visit: www.smartcampaign.org

In order to meet the strict guidelines outlined by the Smart Campaign for certification, AMRET worked under the overall coordination of CMA and AFD with the Technical Assistance from Smart Campaign and Microfinanza Srl over the past year. Microfinanza Srl provided technical assistance in the areas of: financial client protection, poverty measurement and reporting and financial capability development of clients.

It is our privilege to receive CPP certificate in June 2016”, said Mr. Chea Phalarin, Amret’s CEO”. With this achievement, Amret will continue to strengthen on its products and services to serve customers better and to create positive impact to the society. We believe that, MFI industry would be healthier and sustainable if more MFIs receive CPP certificate and this will also contribute to economic development. We would like to thank AFD, CMA, Smart Campaign and other relevant stakeholders to promote and support CPP certificate campaign.

Mr. Yun Sovanna, General Secretary of CMA, said: “I congratulate AMRET for this historic achievement, and strongly believe that together with the remaining MFIs under this initiative, they are becoming the champion for the other MFIs on pathway toward Smart Certification. I’d love to thank to AFD for the financial support and my colleague, Mr. Ear Techkung, as the project manager for overall project coordination, and I am proud of our chairman who always contribute to the best achievement of CMA and the project so far”.

About AMRET

Amret is a leading micro-finance institution in Cambodia. Historically Amret began its microcredit activity in 1991 through a project run by GRET, a French NGO. Initially a village-banking operation Amret evolved from 1995 onwards towards a direct credit approach and in 2000 it transformed into a private limited company. Since 2009, Amret has become a Microfinance Deposit – Taking Institution (MDI) and has successfully implemented deposit solutions in USD and local currency.

Amret is backed by international development finance institutions IFC and FMO and is part of the Advans group, an international network of finance institutions presents in 9 countries across Africa and Asia. Amret endeavors to achieve a high level of financial and social performance and promote sustainable economic development. For more information about Amret, visit: www.amret.com.kh

About Cambodia Microfinance Association (CMA)

The Cambodia Microfinance Association is an NGO and professional association that aims to ensure the prosperity and sustainability of the microfinance sector in Cambodia. CMA plays a vital role in creating local and international networks as well as seeking equity and loan funds, new technologies and overseeing conflict resolution between microfinance operators. For more information about CMA, visit: www.cma-network.org

About French Development Agency (AFD)

AFD is a public development finance institution 100% hold by the French State that has been working to fight poverty and foster economic growth in developing countries and overseas territories for more than seventy years. In Cambodia since 1993, AFD has been supporting the microfinance sector as from the beginning for an accessible and inclusive finance. For more information about AFD, visit: www.afd.fr/lang/en/home

About Microfinanza Srl

Microfinanza Srl is an Italian consulting company and a pioneer with more than 15 years of experience in providing consultancy services and technical support in the microfinance sector. It aims to provide expertise and innovative solutions for the development of the sector and to support the growth and professionalization of microfinance institutions. For more information, visit: www.microfinanza.com

PRESS RELEASE

02nd May 2016, SATHAPANA Bank PLC. (SPN) and Vision Fund Cambodia (VFC) have been 100% officially recognized as “Client Protection Certified” by the Smart Campaign for meeting strong standards of client care thanks to M-CRIL as the Certifier. SPN and VFC both are the second financial institution in Cambodia to be awarded this prestigious certification out of the 10 MFIs pursuing such recognition funded by French Development Agency (AFD) under the “Client Protection Initiative” project implemented by Cambodia Microfinance Association (CMA). For more information about M-CRIL, visit: www.m-cril.com

Client Protection initiative is aiming to contribute to the stability and promotion of responsible finance with a view to ensuring a sustainable growth for the microfinance sector in Cambodia. Among several actions aimed at fighting against the risk of clients’ over-indebtedness, CMA is disseminating and ensuring the implementation of the Client Protection Principles (CPPs) in which CMA has been supporting top 10 MFIs in Cambodia to achieve Client Protection Certification through Smart Campaign.

The Smart Campaign is a global initiative which exists to ensure strong client-protection practices in the microfinance industry. The Smart Campaign’s Client Protection Certification program publicly recognizes institutions providing financial services to low-income households, whose standards of care uphold the Smart Campaign’s seven Client Protection Principles covering important areas such as pricing, transparency, fair and respectful treatment and prevention of over-indebtedness. The certification program contains a rigorous set of standards against which institutions are evaluated by independent, third-party raters that are licensed by the Smart Campaign. More information about Smart Campaign, visit: www.smartcampaign.org

In order to meet the strict guidelines outlined by the Smart Campaign for certification, SPN and VFC worked under the overall coordination of CMA and AFD with the Technical Assistance from Smart Campaign and Good Return over the past year. Good Return provided technical assistance in the areas of: financial client protection, poverty measurement and reporting and financial capability development of clients.

Mr. Yun Sovanna, General Secretary of CMA, said: “I congratulate SPN and VFC for this historic achievement, and strongly believe that together with the remaining MFIs under this initiative, they are becoming the champion for the other MFIs on pathway toward Smart Certification. I’d love to thank to AFD for the financial support and my colleague, Mr. Ear Techkung, as the project manager for overall project coordination, and I am proud of our chairman who always contribute to the best achievement of CMA and the project so far”.

About SATHAPANA Bank Plc.

SATHAPANA Bank Plc. was established as a Cambodian non-government organization (NGO) in 1995, under the name of Cambodia Community Building (CCB), to offer financial and health education services to poor communities. After financial grants were finished in late 1999, CCB adopted a minimalist microfinance approach focusing purely on credit loans and saving services. As a result, the lending operations shifted gradually from predominantly village banking group loans to a mix of solidarity group lending and individual lending. The CCB put forth its efforts to transform into a licensed microfinance institution.

The CCB registered at Ministry of Commerce in February 2003 with the new name “Cambodian Entrepreneur Building Limited.” In April 2003, CEB obtained a license of microfinance institution from the National Bank of Cambodia. The name of company was changed to Sathapana Limited (SPN) with Reachasey, the king of animals as its logo in 2008. Sathapana Limited was the first MFI to obtain deposit taking license from the National Bank of Cambodia in January 2009. Sathapana merged with MARUHAN Japan Bank to form a big commercial bank in Cambodia, and the company received a commercial banking license from National Bank of Cambodia in March 2016. SATHAPANA Bank Plc. is providing saving, loan, remittance, ATM products and many other banking services.

Vision Fund is a social leading Microfinance Institution (MFI) in Cambodia and the only licensed Microfinance institution that has a global network of more than 30 countries with mission to brighter future for children, empower families to create income and jobs, and unlock economic potential for communities to thrive.

As of April 2016, Vision Fund Cambodia has 111 provincial and district branches covering in 25 provinces, 144 districts, and 1,550 communes. We employed over 1,500 highly trained employees and maintained a loan portfolio of over US$133 million. We serve over 260,000 borrowers mainly in rural communities. Vision Fund Cambodia has contributed to numerous communities and educational projects in Cambodia as a result more than 840,000 children have been positively impacted. For more information about Vision Fund Cambodia, visit: www.visionfund.com.kh

About Cambodia Microfinance Association (CMA)

The Cambodia Microfinance Association is an NGO and professional association that aims to ensure the prosperity and sustainability of the microfinance sector in Cambodia. CMA plays a vital role in creating local and international networks as well as seeking equity and loan funds, new technologies and overseeing conflict resolution between microfinance operators. For more information about CMA, visit: www.cma-network.org

About French Development Agency (AFD)

AFD is a public development finance institution 100% hold by the French State that has been working to fight poverty and foster economic growth in developing countries and overseas territories for more than seventy years. In Cambodia since 1993, AFD has been supporting the microfinance sector as from the beginning for an accessible and inclusive finance. For more information about AFD, visit: www.afd.fr/lang/en/home

About Good Return

Established in 2003, Good Return is a non-profit organization that works across the Asia Pacific to deliver economic and social development programs for the financially and socially excluded. Sharing with others the vision of a world without poverty, Good Return is proud to be one of the leading supporters of financial inclusion across the Asia Pacific region. Good Return is an affiliate of World Education, and has its head office in Sydney, Australia. For more information about Good Return, visit: http://programs.goodreturn.org

PRESS RELEASE

OKNHA HOUT IENGTONG ELECTED CHAIRMAN OF BOARD OF DIRECTOR OF CAMBODIA MICROFINANCE ASSOCIATION

Phnom Penh, 04 March 2016 – Today, Cambodia Microfinance Association (CMA) organized its 10th Annual General Assembly (AGA) which was attended by 62 representatives of its members to review the achievements of the previous year and discuss work plan for 2016. The 10th AGA elected new Chairmen and Members to the Board of Director (BoD) for the mandate of 2016-2017. Oknha Dr. Bun Mony, who has served for two consecutive terms limit (2012-2013, 2013-2015) as Chairman of the Board of Director, did not stand again. Please find the list of the compositions below:

Oknha Hout Iengtong

Hattha Kaksekar Limited

Chairman of the BoD

Mr. Kea Borann AMK Microfinance Plc.

Vice-chairman of the BoD

Mr. Chea Phalarin Amret Microfiance Institution

Members of the BoD

Mr. Soung Engchhay KREDIT Microfinance Institution

Members of the BoD

Mr. Sok Voeun LOLC (Cambodia) Plc.

Members of the BoD

Mr. Sim Senacheert Prasac Microfinance Institution

Members of the BoD

Mr. King Kap Kalyan Samic Plc.

Members of the BoD

Oknha Dr. Bun Mony Vithey Microfinance Plc.

Members of the BoD

Mrs. Top Sok Samphea VisionFund (Cambodia) Ltd

Members of the BoD

Mrs. Khun Sonita YCP

Members of the BoD

Mr. Hun Sopheak Woori Finance (Cambodia) Plc.

Members of the BoD

For future communication and further information, please contact the Secretariat of CMA via information below.

The annual microfinance conference 2015 under the main theme “Healthy Growth for Sustainable Development” on 23 December 2015 in Preah Sihanouk Province was officially opened at 8.30 am with 149 (women=20) eminence leaders and representatives from MFIs, Financial Institutions, Regulators and Government, and from investors and other key stakeholders.

The Annual Microfinance Conference held with three main objectives:

To provide forum for discussion on the critical elements affecting the growth and development of Cambodia’s microfinance sector and the economy

To encourage strong professionalism in microfinance sector and revitalize Institutions’ social goals

To debate and instill highly responsible and healthy growth strategy across the Microfinance sector